New Years 2012/2013

We made our way to Flagstaff again for the third year in a row. We couldn't have asked for better weather. This year was like two years ago, snowy and cold. Perfection.

We arrived around 3:30 and while the boys settled in I hit up the hotel gift shop, they had Pendleton Wool products galore there! Bags, pillows, blankets, hats...it was amazing. We walked the hotel property and played in the snow before we headed to dinner at the Western Gold, which was way cheap this year compared to last year but just as good.

Not sure what we did for the hours leading up to midnight, that's a lie, we watched CNN with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin, hilar and a lot of Univision, an odd sort of tradition for us.

We drank bubbly drinks, stayed up late and by 12:30 we were all in bed...Espen first, I still can't believe he stayed up till midnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, just as good as last year (hello eggs Benedict) we headed out to Wing mountain. The wait to get in was not so bad and we spent a good three hours there hitting the big hills and sneaking off the beaten path to play in the untouched snow in the forest behind the park.

We're home now and happy to be out of the cold but thankful that we had another successful New Years trip to northern Arizona, I can't wait to do it again next year.

thanksgiving day bike ride 2011

i guess it was actually labor day last year when we got the bikes out and went for a ride around my parents neighborhood, but either way, we had fun re-creating our photos from that day last year.

i probably should have used the bathroom before we left because i almost peed my pants on at least 3 occasions. From chasing down rogue deer, my inability to kick my bike up like a bad ass 'bmx'er AND my inability to lift a bike up over my head, i came a little too close to having to run into the desert to 'water the cactus'.

here's what we got out of our photo shoot. jeremy's face in the last 4 pictures cracks me up, he was REALLY getting in to the shot. I literally had to pretend i was an actor for the 'over the head' bike pics, i had a job to do and i could not let the crew down by giggling and peeing. guess it helped because i even managed to get the bike over my head AND stand on one leg! ha!

'so i put my right foot on the pedal and my left foot, where? what?'


when you see me start to fold in half like this while i'm laughing, chances are, i'm about to pee.


all right, this works. just like last year!


again with the bike trick, maybe if joshua wedges a rock under my wheel it will work...it didn't.


say cheese...


if you see me fold up into this position, there's no doubt about it, i'm about to pee.


mid fold...consumed with laughter.


heck ya, we did it! jenny gets a super star A for effort. our bikes were insanely heavy.


my inner yogi and jeremy's inner metal dude take over.



***and seester! what a difference a camera makes, huh? so much better than last year!***

8 years ago...

Jeremy,
Please refer to the previous post about our son but swap out the words 'buddy' & 'mom' for lover.
Love,
Christine


Listen, after swimming all day and having not washed my hair for days before I was pretty impressed with my somewhat french twist-like hair do.




That's Tan-tastic. Had to put this picture in for myself, last year I was 16 pounds heavier! Lookin' good little mama.

5 years

Dear Espen,
You just turned 5 years old and I cannot believe what a fantastic, friendly, whip smart, funny, good mannered, cheerful and good-looking boy you are. I have nothing but love for you, the kind of love that you can't describe, the kind that makes your body ache because a million hugs or kisses can't show it. You are my one and only buddy and I am lucky to have you in my life and be your mom.
Love,
Mommy

the kid is in kindergarten

Espen's first day of kindergarten was a few weeks ago and this year was so much different then last year when he started pre-k at his school and I'm not just talking about Espen's hair. It was still exciting and 'new' but Espen was like a whole new kid. Last year his teacher had to coax him to her side and he looked a bit terrified, this year it was like 'see ya, I got this under control, been there done that'.

He settled right in, with his buddies from last year and that was it.  He's been having a great time so far, he and I talk and talk and talk about what they did all day, who he sat with at lunch, how was p.e., art, what songs did he learn. It's amazing.

On Sunday night, for Espen's last night of Summer we went out for a little celebratory fro-yo!






















This guy was next in line to start school. Jeremy started at Phoenix Law this year and we couldn't be more happy and proud of him. xoxo lover.

half day fun day

Espen's school had early release last Friday so a bunch of his classmates decided to get together at the park next to the school.

Before we headed over there we took a minute to look through these incredible binders that his teacher put together for all of the students. Each book had writing samples and drawings and photos from throughout the year. It was such a nice gift and Espen was so proud of it!

There were 11 kids from Espen's class and a ton of other kids too at the park playing in the water feature...we spent 4 hours there and had so much fun. The kiddos played while us mom's got to chit chat and relax, it was a good afternoon.










{ian dumping water on espen and yes, those are bags for picking up dog poop}










{tired of getting his picture taken}